Get that Scholarship

Quite a few years ago I was trying to secure a scholarship to do my masters. I applied, spent hours in libraries going through the big scholarship volumes to no avail. I know very few people who went to university on a scholarship. This shows how many scholarships are available. Strictly speaking, they are few and far between and are greatly contested. This doesn’t mean that you have to shelf your idea of going to university. You just need to plan ahead and start doing small things which will help you in the long run.

Scholarships and bursaries are highly competitive and it is a good idea to have a backup plan, just in case you do not get the scholarship.

Define your goal.

Your goal is to obtain a degree in the field you have chosen and to pursue a career related to your field of study. Keep this in mind.

WORK HARD

I may have observed that scholarships often go to outstanding students. If you are the best student in your class, your chances of getting a scholarship are improved greatly. Teachers, heads and community leaders will often give you information of scholarships and will put you forward for opportunities. This also applies while at university, the best students are often singled out for opportunities.

Make a rational decision.

Studying abroad is very appealing for most students as they have the opportunity to set sail and become independent. Weigh your options with a clear mind. It may be cheaper to go to a local university as this will keep your costs low. The University of Zimbabwe costs about US$1500/year, depending on your degree programme. Compared to British universities that costs roughly£10 000/ year plus another £15 000 for upkeep and books and so on, it will costs about £100 000 to finish a four year programme. I know numerous people who dropped out of university because of financial constraints.

Take into account the whole period of study

If you pay the first year using money from shares you sold, how are you going to pay the next year? Take into account the whole period of study. Also bear in mind any siblings following behind. Will you have two children in university at some point, if so, how will you pay for that? It may be possible for the younger sibling to take a gap year while the other finishes off. Plan ahead and don’t do anything silly like selling the family home to pay for the first year of tuition, (believe me it has been done). The second year will also need to be paid and now that the whole family is homeless, there is even less chances of you being able to pay for the second year. It is better for the child to go to a local university where paying for university will not be too much of a strain.

Don’t take on too much

Don’t take on too much as this will impact your studies. While other students are enjoying student life and studying, you are worrying about how you are going to pay your fees.

Pay your way

Do your bit to pay your way through university where possible. While other students are going binge drinking on a Friday night, rather be prudent and watch the pennies. Every little helps.

SAVE, SAVE & SAVE

Set up a direct debit with your university or open a savings account and set up a direct debit. Even if parents are paying, it may be easier for them to set up a direct debit with the university and pay the fees monthly. This is how I paid my fees, a little bit consistently every month and by the time I graduated, I had paid my fees in full, without too much drama.

Start saving up before the children get to university. Invest and plan ahead, it will be worth it once the children are in university.

Apply

Apply for any and every applicable scholarship and grant.

Consult your university

Consult your university to find out if there are any scholarships or grants available. There are hardship loans available that you may be eligible for. Universities are often very helpful and will assist you as much as possible.

Search for Scholarships

Search for scholarships in your region, town, city, province, area of study, gender, etc. Below is a list of possible scholarships for Zimbabwean students, but most of them are also open to African and international students.

1. Presidential Scholarship

The Robert Mugabe Scholarship. Details of the 2012 scholarship are yet to be distributed.

In line with its community social investment program, Econet has established the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund (JNSF), a pan-African scholarship fund for academically gifted Zimbabweans to pursue their high and tertiary studies at local secondary schools and universities. Ten deserving students from each province will receive the scholarships annually, and half of these scholarships will be reserved for women. Award of the scholarships will be irrespective of race or financial background. Prospective applicants must take note of the following: 100 scholarships per year will be awarded – ten per province. They are warded to students at two levels of the education system: Lower Sixth (post ‘O’ Level) 50 scholarships and First Year University (post ‘A’ Level) – 50 Scholarships.

International Scholarship Program for Africa (4). VALUE: $100,000 ($25,000 x 4 years). Must be citizen of an African country. To renew — maintain high academic standing (7.8 on a 9-point York scale) in each academic year at York.

For Theological Education in Zimbabwe provides an opportunity for donors to make contributions to a permanent fund that will allow the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe to grant scholarship support for students studying for the ministry. The first priority for the use of distributions from the Crosby Scholarship Fund is to provide support for UCCZ students studying for the ministry at the United Theological College in Zimbabwe. Second priority is to use the distributions to support their ministerial students studying in other institutions of theological education in Africa.

The object of this scholarship scheme is to establish scholarships at postgraduate level in the University of Cambridge for the benefit of students from Zimbabwe. The Scholarships are open to citizens of Zimbabwe, normally under the age of 35 and normally resident in Zimbabwe, who already have, or expect to obtain before 1 October 2008, a first class or high second class degree or its equivalent from a recognised University.

Is addressed to post-graduates and to academics who already gained professional experience and who are interested in postgraduate studies (or research stays) in Germany. This program is administered by regional partner committees, staffed by university professors and church representatives. Normally documents are submitted to the committee of the applicant’s home country.

A Rhodes Scholarship is tenable at the University of Oxford. After election to a Scholarship the successful candidate has still, however, to obtain admission to the University of Oxford and one of its constituent Colleges. There is no guarantee of a place and the award of the Scholarship is not confirmed by the Rhodes Trustees until the Scholarelect has obtained such admission. The Scholarship once confirmed may be held for one or, more normally, two years and may, at the discretion of the Trustees be extended for a third year.

offers annually a small number of Scholarships for postgraduate studies or research to graduates. The duration of the Scholarships is normally for up to three years at the discretion of Trustees. Scholarships are taken up at a University in the United Kingdom, Ireland or South Africa, for study in a subject of the individual’s choice appropriate to the needs of the beneficial area. In addition, a small number of one-year taught Masters degrees are offered at the University of Leeds, known as the Beit Chevening Leeds Scholarship and similar awards, known as the Beit Chevening Reading Scholarship, are also offered at the University of Reading.

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If you decided your goal you don’t have to think about any other thing, just start your studies and work hard for this. Definitely you will reach to your goal.
Thank for the information about other scholarships.

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I am a bright boy aged 16, currently doin my form four at Mazowe high. Given the opportunity to learn at a good shool, I know I will be able to achieve so much. The problem is my dad lost his job recently and continuing with my studies next year will be a bit difficult so am looking for names of those organisation which offer scholarships for scholars doing their A-level studies.

Hello Madharisa. Wher are you looking for a scholarship for. It is much cheaper to do your firs degree in Zimbabwe and if you then desire, you can do a Masters abroad. It is way much cheaper that way, plus we have so many universities in Zimbabwe. All the best.

I applied fo presidential scholarship last year and my application was successful but i could not secure a place at Forthare . So where do i start to apply this year shud i start frm zero again yet im sure the president office now have all my details?

Am currently studying accounting at NWU in South Africa. Am looking for a bursary or scholarship to continue with my studies.I have completed two years and still have two more years to finish my program.

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